Clamp for joining an electric conductor to a terminal post



June 26, 1956 A. v. TRACY 2,752,583

CLAMP FOR JOINING AN ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR TO A TERMINAL POST Filed on. 20, 1953 Fig. 3

Arthur M Tracy IN VEN TOR.

nited States Patent CLAlVIP FOR JOINING AN ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR TO A TERlVIINAL POST Arthur V. Tracy, Baltimore, Md., assignor of ten per cent to Johannes C. Den Engelsen, Baltimore, Md.

Application October 20, 1953, Serial No. 387,149

2 Claims. (Cl. 339-225) The present invention relates to a readily attachable and detachable clamp through the medium of which an electric conductor may be mechanically and electrically joined or connected with a relatively fixed terminal or binding post, which ensures a positive and eflicient juncture or connection between the components and does not require solder or an equivalent agent in completing and maintaining the desired connection between the parts.

It is a matter of common knowledge that cable terminals and battery terminal and equivalent posts have to do with a highly active and consequently far reaching art. Despite the widespread efforts to aptly and satisfactorily solve the problem of devising adequate terminal means, there is apparently no structural adaptation which has served to satisfy the respective requirements and needs of manufacturers and users. An objective here is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon similarly constructed and performing terminal and clamp arrangements in the belief that in so doing, an acceptable solution to the problem is thus being uncovered and recommended for reliable use.

More specifically, the invention has to do with the category of clamps and terminals which utilize a terminal block to which the cable or other conductor is efiectively but separably connected, said block having a collar, ear, or the like, which embraces a terminal post and serves as a hold-down means for the block, and wherein clamping means, such as, for example, a nut, serves to eifectively bind the collar to the post.

In carrying out the over-all objectives, the conductor is joined to the block through the medium of a novel pin which is rotatable in the block and which has a hole which is registerable with a conductor passage extending through the block, the bared portion of the conductor being threaded through the hole in the pin and the pin being such that it serves to bend, crimp and thus distort the bared end sutficiently that it is eifectively anchored in the block and will not come loose despite the fact that the conductor and block and other parts may be subject to constant vibration.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention, the terminal post, as before suggested, is screw threaded to accommodate the collar or first washer which is connected with the block and a nut, there being a second washer which encircles the post and which provides a lock-washer, said lock-washer being unique in that it is operatively and rigidly connected with one end of the oscillatory crimping pin to operate in unison with the pin, the result desired being attained through the medium of a crank arm on one end of the pin which is radial to and rigidly connected with the outer peripheral edge of the lock-washer, whereby the washer resists the undesired accidental turning of the pin and the pin and lock-washer combine in their companion functioning to ensure effective cooperation between the parts of the over-all structure.

Objects, features and advantages in addition to those above mentioned will become more readily apparent from "'ice the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views: 4

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the essential details of the improved clamp, conductor, terminal post and complemental parts constructed in accordance with the invention, and showing the same assembled for use;

Fig. 2 is a view in section and elevation illustrating all of the elements;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the vertical line 44 ofFig. 2,-- looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings with the aid of reference numerals and accompanying lead lines, the terminal post is denoted generally in Fig. 2 by the numeral 6. It is here shown, however, as a simplebolt having a head 8 and a shank 10 with a screw threaded portion 12 to accommodate the assembling and clamping nut 14. The bolt is shown fastened to a support member 16. The preferred expression for this part, however, is terminal post. The cable or electrical conductor is denoted by the numeral 18 and is best shown in Fig. 2 wherein the insula tion or covering is denoted at 20 and the bared core or wire portion is denoted at 22. As before mentioned, this bared portion is fitted into an axial passage 24 provided therefor in a metallic terminal block 26. The block is a simple rectangular member, and it will be noticed that in Fig. 2, the left hand end of the passage thereof is silghtly enlarged, as at 28, in order that the end portion of the core may be bent down and clinched or crimp-' locked in place, as denoted at 30. To do this, a crimping or crank pin 32 is employed. This pin, as perhaps best shown in Fig. 4, is mounted for oscillation or rotation in a transverse bearing hole or second passage 34 which extends through the block at right angles to and intersects the passage 24 and opens through opposite vertical sides of the block. This pin, as before mentioned, has a hole 36 therethrough which is alignable with the passage 24 and which may be disaligned slightly, or inclined, as shown in Fig. 2 for purposes of bending or otherwise distorting the cable-end, as at 30. One end of the pin is provided with a reduced extension 38 which provides a wrench or tool grip for turning the pin. On the other end of the pin, there is an operating connector which here takes the form of a lug or crank arm 40. This is fixedly secured to the end of the pin in any suitable way. The pin is shown, however, as being bifurcated in Fig. l, where a key 42 extends through and is welded or otherwise secured with the furcations and is also welded or otherwise secured with the crank arm. The crank arm works back and forth in a clearance notch 44 conveniently provided in the side 46 of the block, as shown best in Fig. 1. The left hand end (in the drawings) of the crank arm is integrated or joined, with the peripheral portion 48 of the cant-type lock washer 50. This washer encircles the threaded portion of the post and is interposed between the nut 14 and the complemental collar or washer 52 which is integrally joined at 54 with one end of the terminal block.

As is clear, the purpose of the invention is to provide a vibration-proof way of securing electric conductors to a terminal without the aid of solder. The device consists of three main parts. The block of the clamp which contains the cable or conductor, the crimping pin which is attached to the lock washer and the means of securing same.

The method of attachment is as follows: Place collar of clamp over terminal, insert cable in body of clamp through the crimping pin flush with the side nearest the terminal. The lock washer portion will then stand at approximately :1 45 angle. Turn the crimping pin with a small wrench so that the locked washer will enter over the terminal, secure same with nut. By doing this, a small bend is made in the cable which secures same. When the assembly is bolted in position, the cable maintains what might be called a resistive pressure on the lock washer portion. The same result is obtained as if a conventional-type lock washer were used. The square portion of the crimping pin may also be used to reclarnp cable when it is necessary. This device may be made to accommodate wire of any size, large or small. This device was tested under actual working conditions where the vibration of electric control panels was the greatest, and the results were excellent.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes vn'l'l readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modificationsand equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a screw threaded terminal post, a terminal block having a passage for an electrical conductor, a conductor crimping and clamping pin mounted for oscillation in said block, said pin intersecting said passage and having a hole registerable with said passage and through which said conductor is threaded so that when the pin is rocked and rotated relative to the block and conductor, the latter is bent, crimp-locked, and anchored in said block, and means for detachably but clampingly joining said block to said terminal post, said means embodying a hold-down washer iixed to said block and encircling said post, a nut threaded on said post to 4 retain said washer in its intended position, a second washer independent of and encircling said post and interposed between the nut and hold-down washer, and means mechanically and positively joining said pin and second washer with each other, said means characterized by a rigid operating connection between the pin and second 7 washer, whereby said pin, second washer and operating connection move in unison and function as a unit.

2. In combination, a screw threaded terminal post, a terminal block having a passage for an electrical conductor, a conductor crimping and clamping pin mounted for oscillation in said block, said pin intersecting said passage and having a hole registerable with said passage and through which said conductor is threaded so that when the pin is rocked and rotated relative to the block and conductor, the latter is bent, crimp-locked, and anchored in said block, and means for detachably but clampingly joining said block to said terminal post, said means embodying a hold-down washer fixed in offset relation to one end of said block and encircling said post, a nut threaded on said post to retain said washer in its intended position, a second washer independent of saidfirst washer and also encircling said post and interposed between the nut and hold-down Washer, and means mechanically and positively joining said pin and second washer with each other, said means being characterized by a crank fixed to one end of said pin, disposed radially in respect to and fixed to the outer periphery of said second washer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,705,579 Lutz Mar. 19, 1929 2,370,725 Gordon Mar. 6, 1945 2,622,121 Pedersen Dec. 16, 1952 2,680,145 Lanfear June 1, 1954 

